PHI-384-OL009_Ethics &Business Professional_ Application Assignment 3

This assignment explores Ethics Across Time and Cultures and evaluates if it is Ethical to Dump Toxic Waste in Countries That Allow It.

The world has become increasingly interconnected in recent years. People from all corners of the globe are now able to communicate and interact with one another like never before. With this increased connectivity comes increased responsibility. As members of the global community, it is our duty to act in a way that benefits everyone, not just ourselves.

One issue that highlights the need for global cooperation is the problem of toxic waste dumping. Every year, tons of hazardous waste are shipped from developed countries to developing ones. This waste includes everything from industrial chemicals to medical waste. Often, these countries lack the necessary infrastructure to deal with this type of waste properly. As a result, it ends up being dumped in landfills or burned, releasing harmful toxins into the environment.

This practice is not only harmful to the environment, but also to the people who live in these developing countries. Exposure to these toxins can cause a variety of health problems, including cancer and birth defects. In addition, it can contaminate the food and water supply, making it even more difficult for people to stay healthy.

The developed countries that are responsible for this issue often argue that they are simply taking advantage of the lax environmental regulations in these developing countries. They claim that it is cheaper to dump their waste there than to dispose of it properly at home. However, this does not make the practice any less unethical.

Should a multinational company take advantage of another country’s lack of regulation or enforcement if it saves money to do so?

The easy answer is no, it should not. But when we delve deeper into the issue, we can see that there are many shades of gray.

For example, let’s say a company is based in country A, which has very strict environmental regulations. The company wants to expand its operations into country B, which has much weaker environmental regulations. The company knows that it can save a lot of money by dumping its waste in country B instead of disposing of it properly at home.

On the one hand, we could argue that the company should not take advantage of country B’s lax regulations. After all, it is causing harm to the environment and the people who live there.

On the other hand, we could argue that the company is simply doing what is best for business. If it did not take advantage of the weak regulations in country B, it would not be able to compete with other companies that are doing so. As a result, it might have to scale back its operations or even close down entirely.

So, what is the right thing to do?

The answer may not be as clear-cut as we would like, but there are some general principles that we can follow. First and foremost, we should always act in a way that minimizes harm. If we know that our actions will cause harm to others, we should avoid them. Second, we should try to find solutions that benefit everyone involved. In the case of toxic waste dumping, this could mean working with developing countries to help them build the infrastructure they need to properly dispose of hazardous waste.